H. D. Brown
Sisters

These ancient thin and towering twisted sister oaks
fling their spindly arms around each other
            in a timely dance

the heavy winds of winter storms
have pruned away the dead wood
and the asymmetrical branches
that left them plump and awkward
            in their teenaged years

have rotted back into the roots at their feet
at one hundred and fifty
they are young women now
            their shadows fall

as long skirts at their ankles
their arms uplifted to the sun
that twirls above their heavenly heads
their intertwined arms spin
            a circle around the sun

as we spin along together
to the tune we hear if we listen
carefully in quiet moments alone
and moments of hilarity together

<< return to the Table of Contents for New Series #4: Winter 2012, Volume 2 Number 2